In production · trail · Trail / Daily · $130
Zero-drop barefoot trail shoe: pure ground feel, minimal stack.
Built for trail, daily, at a target pace of 8:30–11:30 /mi on trail.
Merrell tuned this midsole very firm (1/5 on our cushioning scale). Energy return is modest, so the ride feels protective and damp rather than springy. 14 mm of heel stack keeps you low and connected, with more ground feel than most current trainers. Combined, the ride reads as lively at 3/5 responsiveness.
There is no plate here. The midsole does all the work, so the shoe flexes naturally and stays versatile across paces — easier on the feet day to day, but without the snap of a plated shoe when you want to roll.
A 0 mm drop is close to level. That loads the calf and Achilles more than most runners are used to, so ease into it. The geometry is fairly traditional and flat, so the shoe follows your foot rather than steering it. The forefoot flexes easily, so the shoe adapts to slower, shorter strides. Support is light — neutral, with a mildly steady platform.
The toe-box is unusually roomy — foot-shaped rather than tapered, which suits splayed or bunion-prone feet. It fits true to size. Expect roughly 300 miles from the outsole, about $0.43 per mile at $130.
For the foams and plates Merrell uses across its line, read the Merrell brand guide.
Measured against the 542 currently-available shoes in the catalog. The bar shows where this shoe sits in that range.
Weight
190 g / 6.7 oz
85 g lighter than the catalog median of 275 g
Heel stack
14 mm
22 mm lower than the catalog median of 36 mm
Drop
0 mm
6 mm lower than the catalog median of 6 mm
Price
$130
30 cheaper than the catalog median of 160
Responsiveness
3 / 5
Catalog median 3 / 5
Cushioning
1 / 5
Catalog median 4 / 5
Energy return
2 / 5
Catalog median 3 / 5
Durability
~300 mi
Catalog median ~400 mi
Within the Merrell line it is lighter than the brand's median (263.5 g / 9.3 oz) and sits lower than its median stack (29.5 mm).
Current shoes with the nearest combination of weight, stack, drop, foam feel and plate.
Topo Athletic Connect
232 g / 8.2 oz · 11 mm · 0 mm drop · — · $130
Barefoot-style zero-drop shoe for road-to-trail ground feel.
New Balance MT10
204 g / 7.2 oz · 14 mm · 4 mm drop · — · $120
New Balance MT10: 14 mm heel stack, 4 mm drop, 200 g — specs from independent lab testing.
Altra Vanish XC
150 g / 5.3 oz · 15 mm · 0 mm drop · — · $90
Minimal zero-drop cross-country racer for soft courses.
Hoka Evo Jawz 2
210 g / 7.4 oz · 22 mm · 4 mm drop · — · $150
Sticky, aggressive short-course trail racer with huge grip.